System and method for checking mail for contaminants

ABSTRACT

A piece of closed tearable mail to be checked for contaminants is inserted through a closable opening into a transparent envelope. The envelope has a pair of panels each formed adjacent an end of the envelope with a double-folded region past which the piece of mail extends when contained in the envelope so that once the contained mail to be checked can be gripped through the panels to both sides of the double-folded region and torn open to check if it contains a contaminant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for checking mail for contaminants. More particularly this invention concerns such a system used to verify if mail contains particulate contaminants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In recent times it has become necessary to be able to check mail for contaminants. For a big operation, this can be done with a piece of equipment where the mail to be checked is loaded into a closed container and either opened remotely or by means of gauntlets projecting through the equipment wall and allowing the operator to actually grab and open the mail. Such a system is, however, clearly out of the reach of a small office that might want to check the occasional letter or the like received from a suspicious sender.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved system and method for checking mail for contaminants.

[0004] Another object is the provision of such an improved system and method for checking mail for contaminants which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which is relatively simple and inexpensive, yet which allows the user to easily verify if a piece of mail contains contaminants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The system according to the invention is used in combination with a piece of closed tearable mail to be checked for contaminants. The system has a transparent envelope dimensioned to contain the piece of mail and formed with a closable opening through which the mail to be checked can be inserted. The envelope has a pair of panels each formed adjacent an end of the envelope with a double-folded region past which the piece of mail extends when contained in the envelope so that once the mail to be checked is contained in the envelope a user can grip the contained mail through the panels to both sides of the double-folded region and tear open the contained mail to be checked.

[0006] The envelope according to the invention can be produced at low cost and can be disposable or reusable. It allows an individual or small office to check a suspicious piece of mail without worrying about contaminating the surroundings. If, for instance, a powder can be shaken out of a piece of mail that is contained in the envelope and that has been torn open, the entire assembly, that is the envelope with the hermetically contained piece of suspicious mail, can be safely turned over to some facility capable of dealing with it and testing it using more elaborate facilities.

[0007] According to the invention the envelope has a pair of side seams between which the double-folded regions extend. The double-folded regions are fastened together at the seams. Thus the entire envelope can be produced, like a standard food-storage bag, from a single multiply folded piece of thermoplastic film, the main difference between the envelope of this invention and a food-storage bag being the double-folded end permitting a contained piece of mail to be torn open without stressing the envelope.

[0008] In order that the envelope does not open up and spread at the double-folded end, it is provided with a removable strip releasably secured to both panels and extending over the end to hold the double-folded regions together so that when the strip is removed the regions can be spread.

[0009] The closable fill opening can be at the double-folded end of the envelope or at the opposite end. In addition the double-folded regions impart a W-shape to the one end.

[0010] The method according to the invention comprises the steps of first inserting the piece of mail through the opening into the envelope until the piece of mail extends past the double-folded regions into the end. Then the opening is sealed closed. The user subsequently inserts his or her fingers into the double-folded regions to both sides of the piece of mail in the envelope and tears an end portion off the piece of mail. A simple shake is then sufficient to determine if the envelope contains any powder or the like.

[0011] When the envelope further has a removable strip releasably secured to both panels and extending over the end to hold the double-folded regions together, this strip is removed before inserting the fingers in to the double-folded regions of the envelope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0012] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, it being understood that any feature described with reference to one embodiment of the invention can be used where possible with any other embodiment and that reference numerals or letters not specifically mentioned with reference to one figure but identical to those of another refer to structure that is functionally if not structurally identical. In the accompanying drawing:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a plan view of an envelope for checking mail;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the envelope and contained mail of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a small-scale view through an alternate system;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a plan view of another mail-checking envelope in accordance with the invention;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the envelope of FIG. 4;

[0018]FIGS. 6 and 7 are sections through variants on the system of FIG. 5; and

[0019]FIGS. 8 and 9 are detail views illustrating use of the mail-checking envelope according to the invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

[0020] As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a system or envelope 22 for checking a piece 10 of mail suspected of containing a contaminant, e.g. something toxic, basically has a pair of clear plastic panels 3 and 4 joined together at a pair of parallel side seams 1 and 2. Such an envelope 22 can be made by weld-seaming together two plastic sheets or a multiply folded sheet and simultaneously cutting along the seams 1 and 2. The panels 3 and 4 are made of a durable, flexible, and transparent plastic. The interior space defined between the panels 3 has a length exceeding a length b of the biggest piece of mail 10 being processed by a distance y and a width exceeding a width h of the mail 10 by a distance x.

[0021] The front sheet 3 is shorter by a distance k than the back sheet so that a projecting end of the back sheet 4 can be formed with two holes 5 allowing a stack or block of the envelopes to be mounted on a pair of pins for easy dispensing. The shorter front panel 3 forms an opening 6 through which the mail 10 to be checked can be inserted into the envelope 22. This opening 6 can be sealed closed along a line 11, for instance by means of an interfitting ridge/groove seal such as used on a food-storage bag.

[0022] The panels 3 and 4 are formed at the end of the envelope 22 opposite to the opening 6 with respective double folds 7 and 8 of S- or Z-shape that are formed before the seams 1 and 2 are made so they are quite stable. The double folds 7 and 8 are formed by two sections of a length t and are tacked removably at 12 to the respective panels 3 and 4 so that, unless intentionally done, the envelope 22 will stay flat. The ends of the double folds are joined together to form a central pocket open toward the opening 6.

[0023] To prevent the envelope 22 from spreading open at the double-folds 7 and 8, a plastic strip 13 can be provided which is actually constituted by two bands 15 joined at 14 to the panels 3 and 4 and at 16 to each other. This strip 13 thus holds the bottom end of the envelope 22 of FIGS. 1 and 2 closed. FIG. 3 shows how the double folds 7 and 8 can each be welded together at 19 and then together to each other at 20 to form an end strip 13′ removable at perforation lines 21 and extending outboard of the seams 20. As in FIG. 2, the end strip 13′ projects a distance L past the closed end of the envelope 22.

[0024] The envelope 22 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is used as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 by, after inserting the piece 10 of mail into it so it passes the double-folded regions 7 and 8, spreading these regions 7 and 8 so that the fingers of one hand can grip the end edge of the mail 10 while the fingers of the other hand can grip the mail 10 immediately thereadjacent. The two gripped portions of the mail 10 can then be shifted and torn to open the mail 10, allowing any powder in it to escape into the envelope 22, where it can be seen but will remain contained. Such spreading is permitted by the double folds of the panels 3 and 4 without forming a hole in or even stretching the panels 3 and 4 significantly. If a contaminant is found, the entire assembly can be forwarded to a processing/testing facility; if not, the envelope 22 can be opened and the mail processed. In the latter case the envelope 22 can be discarded or reused.

[0025] In FIGS. 4 and 5 a similar system is shown, but with the folded-regions 7 and 8 of the envelope 22′ provided at the ends of the panels 3 and 4 immediately adjacent the opening 6. Either as shown in FIG. 6 a single U-shaped removable closure strip 18 can be secured to the panels 3 and 4 to hold the envelope 22′ shut, or as shown in FIG. 7 strip 13 as in FIG. 2 can be employed for this purpose. 

I claim:
 1. In combination with a piece of closed tearable mail to be checked, a system for checking the piece of mail for contaminants, the system comprising: a transparent envelope dimensioned to contain the piece of mail and formed with a closable opening through which the mail to be checked can be inserted, the envelope having a pair of panels each formed adjacent an end of the envelope with a double-folded region past which the piece of mail extends when contained in the envelope, whereby once the mail to be checked is closed in the envelope a user can grip the contained mail to be checked through the panels to both sides of the double-folded region and tear open the contained mail to be checked.
 2. The mail-checking system defined in claim 1 wherein the envelope has a pair of side seams between which the double-folded regions extend, the double-folded regions being fastened together at the seams.
 3. The mail-checking system defined in claim 1, further comprising a removable strip releasably secured to both panels and extending over the end to hold the double-folded regions together, whereby when the strip is removed the regions can be spread.
 4. The mail-checking system defined in claim 1 wherein the opening is at the end.
 5. The mail-checking system defined in claim 1 wherein the opening is remote from the end.
 6. The mail-checking system defined in claim 1 wherein the double-folded regions impart a W-shape to the end.
 7. A method of checking a piece of tearable mail for contaminants using an envelope dimensioned to contain the piece of mail and formed with a closable opening through which the mail to be checked can be inserted, the envelope having a pair of panels each formed adjacent an end of the envelope with a double-folded region, the method comprising the steps of sequentially: inserting the piece of mail through the opening into the envelope until the piece of mail extends past the double-folded regions into the end; sealing the opening closed; and inserting the fingers into the double-folded regions to both sides of the piece of mail in the envelope and tearing an end portion off the piece of mail.
 8. The mail-checking method defined in claim 7 wherein the envelope further has a removable strip releasably secured to both panels and extending over the end to hold the double-folded regions together, the method further comprising the steps before inserting the fingers in to the double-folded regions of removing the strip to expose the regions and thereafter spreading the regions. 